Hey, don't lose hope! I was in your situation last month. Turns out there was a glitch in their system. Keep calling and eventually you'll get it sorted. Sending good vibes your way! 💪

I went through this exact same thing a few months ago - payments stuck in pending for almost 3 weeks with zero communication. What finally worked for me was calling the technical support line (not the main number) at 1-800-300-5616. They were able to see there was a flag on my account that needed manual review. Sometimes it's just a system glitch that requires human intervention. Also, try logging in and out of your EDD account a few times - sounds silly but it actually refreshed something on my end. Don't give up, you'll get through this! 🤞

Hey Oliver! I had my appeal hearing about 8 months ago and won my case. The ALJ will definitely call you at the scheduled time - make sure you're in a quiet place with good phone reception about 10 minutes early. My hearing lasted about 90 minutes because my employer brought their manager and tried to argue I was fired for cause when I was clearly laid off. Here's what really helped me: I organized all my evidence into folders on my computer so I could quickly pull up any document they referenced. Have your emails about the restructuring ready to go! Also, when the judge asks you to explain what happened, stick to the facts and timeline - don't get emotional even if your employer says frustrating things. The good news is that ALJs are way more reasonable than the initial EDD reviewers. They actually listen to your side of the story. Since you have documentation showing it was restructuring and not a voluntary quit, you should be in good shape. Just be confident and tell the truth!

I just wanted to add that you should also prepare for the possibility that your employer might bring up reasons why they think you quit voluntarily - like maybe they'll say you didn't show up for work after being told about the restructuring or something like that. Have your story straight about exactly what happened on your last day and who told you what. Also, don't worry too much about the legal language or sounding perfect - the ALJ just wants to understand what actually happened. I was so nervous during mine that I stumbled over words, but the judge was patient and asked follow-up questions to clarify. The most important thing is being honest and having those restructuring emails ready to reference. You're going to do great!

Just wanted to add my voice to everyone encouraging you to apply! I'm a newer member here but went through unemployment after being terminated for "performance issues" that were really just retaliation for filing a workers' comp claim. The advice about documenting everything is spot on. I kept a detailed timeline of events and it made all the difference during my phone interview. Since you mentioned having witnesses to the harassment incident, try to get their contact info if possible - EDD sometimes reaches out to witnesses during their investigation. One thing I wish someone had told me: don't panic if your online account shows confusing status updates or if the process takes longer than expected. The EDD system can be glitchy and timelines vary a lot. Just keep certifying every two weeks and stay on top of any correspondence they send you. Your situation sounds much stronger than mine was, and I still got approved after the contest. Standing up against workplace harassment is definitely not misconduct - it's basic human decency. You did the right thing and you deserve these benefits while you find new employment. Good luck with your application!

Just chiming in as someone who works in HR - what you experienced sounds like textbook retaliation, not legitimate insubordination. Most companies know that terminating someone for intervening in harassment situations opens them up to serious legal liability, but some still try it hoping the employee won't fight back. A few things to keep in mind for your application: - California Labor Code Section 1102.5 specifically protects employees who report violations of law (harassment based on accent/national origin is illegal) - Your lack of any prior disciplinary actions actually strengthens your case significantly - The timing (terminated the day after intervening) makes the retaliation pretty obvious When you describe the incident in your application, emphasize that you witnessed discriminatory harassment and took appropriate action to address it. Don't downplay what you did - you protected a vulnerable coworker from illegal treatment. Your manager's threat about not qualifying for benefits is just an intimidation tactic. Apply immediately and don't let them scare you out of benefits you've rightfully earned. The worst case scenario is you get initially denied and have to appeal, but even then you have a strong case. You've got this!

Just wanted to add another success story to ease your mind! I was in almost the exact same situation - got a temp job after only receiving one unemployment payment and was super worried about the proper procedure. I just stopped certifying and had zero issues. The beauty of the system is that it's actually pretty straightforward - when you're working full-time, you simply don't certify. No payments get issued, and your claim stays dormant but active for the full benefit year. I ended up not needing to go back on unemployment (my temp job became permanent!), but it was such a relief knowing I could if needed. One thing that helped me feel more secure was logging into my UI Online account and noting down my claim balance and benefit year end date. That way I knew exactly where I stood if circumstances changed. The fact that your manager already mentioned potential for permanent work is a really good sign - sounds like you're in a great position! Don't overthink it, just focus on doing well at the new job.

I was in this exact situation about 8 months ago! Got a full-time temp position after just one unemployment payment and was so stressed about doing the right thing. I ended up just stopping my certifications like everyone else is suggesting, and it worked out perfectly fine. The thing that really put me at ease was realizing that the system is actually designed to handle this - when you're not unemployed, you don't certify. It's that simple. Your claim stays open for the full 52 weeks just in case things don't work out with the temp job. I'd definitely recommend taking a screenshot of your UI Online account showing your current claim status and benefit year end date for your records. Also, since your manager already mentioned the possibility of it becoming permanent, that's a really positive sign! Focus on doing great work and don't stress about the EDD stuff - you're handling it the right way by just stopping your certifications. Good luck with the new job!

That's awesome news! So glad you got approved and will start receiving payments. The wage verification interview is usually much more straightforward - they just need to confirm your earnings history matches what your employer reported. Since you already passed the separation issue interview, this second one shouldn't put your benefits at risk. Thanks for updating us - it's really helpful to see how these situations play out!

I'm so glad to hear you got approved and will start receiving payments! That must be such a huge relief, especially with rent worries. Your experience really highlights how EDD's system can schedule multiple interviews for completely different issues - it's confusing but apparently normal. Thanks for taking the time to update everyone here. Stories like yours help the rest of us understand that getting a second interview notice doesn't necessarily mean something went wrong with the first one. Hope your wage verification interview goes smoothly too!